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Board upholds Urban Forestry denial of tree‑removal permit at 422 Vicente Street
Summary
The San Francisco Board of Appeals on April 14 upheld the Department of Public Works Bureau of Urban Forestry's denial of a private‑property tree removal permit at 422 Vicente Street, finding sidewalk reconstruction and other remedies preferable to root cutting and removal.
The San Francisco Board of Appeals voted April 14 to uphold the Department of Public Works Bureau of Urban Forestry’s denial of a private‑property tree removal permit for a mature red flowering gum at 422 Vicente Street.
Carla Short of the Bureau of Urban Forestry told the board the department’s hearing officer found the sidewalk uphill of the tree was depressed below curb grade — likely due to a sewer lateral — and could be raised and reconstructed to avoid root pruning. Short said preservation options such as reconstructing the sidewalk or modest mounding could preserve the mature tree’s environmental benefits. “So our hope is to preserve this large mature tree without actually cutting the roots,” she said.
Arnold Townsend, representing appellant Andrew Lee, argued the tree’s large root and lean threatened parked cars, property and people, and said homeowners were prepared to replace the tree with a 36‑inch‑box specimen and accepted the likely cost (counsel estimated a 36‑inch box at roughly $2,000). Townsend also told the board property owners feared repeated future sidewalk repairs and potential danger from the tree’s lean.
Commissioners questioned tree age and stability; Urban Forestry said the specimen is mature (department staff estimated approximately 40 years old) but not overmature or failing. The board discussed the tradeoffs between property owners’ repair costs and preserving mature urban canopy and the department’s practice of coordinating sidewalk and curb repairs with the Bureau of Street Use and Mapping.
After deliberations, Commissioner Michael Garcia moved to uphold the department’s denial for the reasons stated in the order; the motion passed on roll call (three in favor, one opposed). The Board recorded a 3‑1 vote to uphold the denial.
What happens next: the property owner may pursue replacement tree planting plans compliant with department requirements and seek sidewalk repair options that avoid root cutting.
